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COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY 


CELEBRATED  JUNE,  184r. 


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THE  FIRST 


CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY 


OF    THE 


COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CELEBRATED  JUNE,  1847, 


Jprinccton,  ^.  1,: 

PRINTED    BY    JOHN    T.    ROBINSON 

1848. 


CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY. 


The  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  at  their  meeting, 
September  26th,  1843,  appointed  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Drs. 
Carnahan  and  Miller,  and  James  S.  Green,  Esq.,  to  consider  whe- 
ther any,  and,  if  any,  what  measures  ought  to  be  adopted  to  cele- 
brate the  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  College,  and  to  report  to 
the  Board  at  the  next  meeting. 

The  Committee  reported  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board  in 
favour  of  a  Centennial  Celebration,  and  was  continued. 

June  23,  1846,  the  Trustees  resolved  that  the  Centemiial  Cele- 
bration should  take  place  on  Tuesday,  Jime  29th,  1847,  the  day 
preceding  the  hundredth  Annual  Commencement. 

To  carry  out  these  resolutions  an  invitation  to  deliver  an  oration 
was  given  to  Governor  McDowell  of  Virginia,  and  also  an  invita- 
tion to  deliver  an  historical  sketch  of  the  College,  was  given  to  the 
Reverend  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander  of  New  York.  The  Trustees 
at  the  same  meeting  adopted  measures  for  establisliing  a  depart- 
ment of  Law  in  connexion  with  the  College,  and  appointed  the 
Honorable  Joseph  C.  Hornblower,  Chief  Justice,  James  S.  Green, 
Esquire,  and  Richard  S.  Field,  Esquire,  Professors  of  Law. 

Shortly  before  the  day  appointed,  when  it  was  too  late  to  obtain 
another  speaker,  a  letter  was  received  from  the  Hon.  James  Mc- 
Dowell, stating  that  circiunstances  heretofore  unforeseen  and  be- 
yond his  control  would  prevent  him  attending  the  Centemiial  Cel- 
ebration and  performing  the  part  assigned  him  on  that  occasion. 
It  was  agreed  that  Henry  W.  Green,  Chief  Justice  of  this  State, 
should  occupy  the  time  assigned  to  the  Hon.  James  M'Dowell,  in 
delivering  an  address  at  the  opening  of  the  Law  School  connected 
with  the  College. 


The  committee  of  arrangements,  consisting  of  the  President  of 
the  College,  the  Reverend  Dr.  Samuel  Miller^  Matthew  Newkirk, 
Esquire,  and  James  S.  Green,  Esquire,  addressed  a  letter  of  invita- 
tion to  attend  the  celebration,  to  the  Presidents  and  other  members 
of  the  Faculty  of  the  Literary  Institutions  of  the  United  States,  and 
also  to  some  distinguished  individuals  other  than  the  Alumni. 

The  Alumni  received  their  invitation  through  the  newspapers. 

As  a  dinner  was  to  be  served  up  for  so  large  a  company  the 
committee  of  arrangements  determined  to  spread  the  tables  in'ithe 
College  Campus  in  rear  of  the  Chapel,  and  they  were  enabled 
through  the  kindness  of  Samuel  W.  Stockton,  Esquire,  of  Philadel- 
phia, to  procure  two  large  tents  which  when  erected  covered  an 
area  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 

The  exercises  of  the  Aimiversary  properly  commenced  on  Sab- 
bath, June  the  27th,  when  the  President  of  the  College,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
James  Carnahan,  delivered  his  Baccalauriate  sermon  to  the  Senior 
Class  in  the  Presbyterian  Chm'ch  in  the  village.  On  evening  of 
Monday  the  next  day,  the  Class  of  1840  met  in  tlie  Chapel  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  to  hear  an  interesting  and  finished  address 
from  J.  A  Monroe,  Esquire,  a  member  of  that  class. 

At  12  o'clock  on  Tuesday,  the  Governor,  Chief  Justice  Green, 
the  President,  Trustees  and  Faculty  of  the  College  and  liaw  De- 
partment, the  two  U.  S.  Senators,  Chancellor,  the  several  Justices 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  with  a  large  body  of  the  Alumni  and  dis- 
tinguished strangers,  assembled  at  the  Law  Building  on  Mercer 
street.  After  prayer  by  Dr.  Carnahan,  the  procession  proceeded 
to  the  Presbyterian  chm-ch,  to  listen  to  the  Address  of  Chief 
Justice  Green.  As  the  committee  have  been  unable  to  procure  a 
copy  of  the  address,  though  application  for  it  was  made  by  the 
Professors  of  the  Law  Department  and  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Col- 
lege, they  use  the  following  sketch  from  the  Newark  Daily  news- 
paper. 

"  The  C'liief  Justice  after  a  few  introductory  remarks,  stating  that 
Law  rather  than  Literature  would  be  the  theme,  proceeded  to 
establish  the  great  proposition  that  a  nation's  Laws  form  the  most 
instructive  portion  of  its  history.  It  is  there  that  the  character,  the 
genius,  the  progress  and  the  refinement  of  a  people  are  most  legibly 
written.     They  constitute,  it  was  said,  the  monument  and  the  record 


of  a  nation's  civilizaiion — the  only  sure  criterion  of  its  freedom 
or  its  servitude.  The  inference  is  obvious  that  the  laws  must 
ever  present  an  interesting  subject  of  study  and  investigation, 
and  hence  mider  the  Jewish  Theocracy — under  the  polished  des- 
potism of  the  East — amidst  the  Democracies  of  Greece — in  the 
Roman  Republic;  as  in  ever)'"  subsequent  periqd  of  time,  the  study 
has  ever  been  a  favourite  pursuit  of  enlightened  and  educated  men. 
Upon  the  revival  of  letters  it  became  the  favourite  study  of  the 
clergy,  and  mider  the  auspices  of  the  chmch  it  was  introduced  into 
schools  and  universities,  and  formed  an  essential  element  of  all  lib- 
eral education.  After  briefly  pursuing  the  history  of  the  subject, 
the  Cliief  Justice  set  forth  and  argued  with  emphasis  the  main 
propositions  of  his  learned  and  able  discom'se — the  necessity  of  a 
more  assiduous  cultivation  of  legal  science — of  a  more  thorough, 
systematic  training  of  candidates  for  the  Bar.  '  I  advocate  it,'  said 
he,  with  deep  earnestness,  '  as  a  measure  necessary  to  sustain  and 
to  elevate  the  character  of  the  profession — as  a  measure  not  less 
necessary  to  the  pure  and  vigorous  administration  of  justice — to 
the  peace  and  order  of  society — to  the  security  of  social  and  political 
rights — to  the  maintenance  and  vigour  of  our  free  institutions — to 
the  preservation  of  all  that  is  valuable  in  liberty  itself.'  In  eluci- 
dating and  enforcing  these  fundamental  trutlis,  the  speaker  seized 
the  occasion  to  explode  and  denounce  certain  popular  prejudices 
and  errors  concerning  the  profession  in  language  becoming  the  dig- 
nity of  his  position.  The  fallacy  of  the  notion  that  educated  law- 
yers promote  litigation  was  exhibited  with  most  convincing  force. 
A  noble  eulogy  was  pronounced  upon  the  Common  Law,  and  some 
of  its  great  expomiders. 

"  You  will  readily  see  that  this  course  of  thought  is  directly  cal- 
culated to  show  the  importance  and  necessity  of  a  thoroughly  edu- 
cated Bar,  and  the  value  of  schools  founded  for  thorough  instruction 
in  the  science.  This  formed  another  leading  topic  of  discourse,  upon 
wliich  it  was  shown  that  this  preparation  for  the  duties  of  the  pro- 
fession, at  all  times  and  in  every  age  important,  was  more  than 
ever  dempaided  in  this  jieriod  of  rude  license  and  innovation,  when 
long  established  principles,  and  well  settled  opinions  are  uprooted 
as  if  from  the  mere  love  of  novelty.  The  agitation  of  vital  ques- 
tions in  a  season  of  popular  excitement  demands  knowledge  to 


discern  the  right,  firmness  to  maintain  it.  Such  times,  it  was 
strongly  said,  demand  men  who  will  maintain  the  right  for  the 
sake  of  the  right — the  honest  boldness  of  Coke  and  the  moral  firm- 
ness which  prompted  the  declaration  of  the  fearless  Jenkins — 
'  Usurped  authority  I  will  not  aclmowledge.  I  fear  not  to  die,  but 
I  will  go  to  execution  with  the  Bible  upon  my  breast,  with  the 
Statute  Law  in  one  hand,  and  the  Common  Law  in  the  other.' 

"To  the  young  men  present  who  contemplate  the  study  of  the  law, 
the  Chief  Justice  addressed  himself  with  more  than  fraternal  feel- 
ing, exhorting  them,  among  other  things,  by  no  means  to  yield  their 
love  of  classic  literature  in  entering  upon  the  study  of  the  profes- 
sion— never  failing  of  course  to  cultivate  a  proper  estimate  of  the 
true  ends  and  real  dignity  of  the  profession.  He  took  care  also  to 
remind  them  that  there  is  no  moral  power  in  mere  intellectual 
greatness. 

"  The  hope  was  expressed,  with  manifest  deference  to  the  learned 
Faculty,  that  in  the  edifice  now  dedicated  to  instruction  in  legal 
science,  the  Common  Law  will  be  taught  in  its  pristine  purity 
and  vigour.  We  need,  said  he,  a  revival  of  common  law  learning — 
of  such  learning  as  gave  to  the  New  Jersey  Bar  her  Paterson  and 
her  Stockton.  But  I  must  desist.  Time  and  space  would  fail  me 
were  I  vainly  to  attempt  to  do  justice  to  a  discourse  characterized 
by  learning,  wisdom,  and  good  taste,  and  which  was  listened  to 
with  unbroken  interest  by  one  of  the  most  enlightened  audiences 
that  I  remember  to  have  seen  in  Princeton  or  elsewhere." 

At  4  o'clock,  the  Alumni,  strangers,  &c.  met  in  the  Campus, — 
the  Alumni  taking  place  in  the  procession  according  to  graduated 
seniority.  There  were  a  number  of  venerable  men  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Alumni — one  who  graduated  in  1787,  and  several  who  gradu- 
ated previous  to  1800.  From  thence  the  procession  moved  to  the 
church,  to  hear  the  Centenary  Discourse  by  Rev.  James  W.  Alex- 
ander, D.D.  The  exercises  were  opened  with  a  deeply  moving 
and  most  appropriate  prayer  by  the  venerable  Dr.  Miller.  Imme- 
diately after  which  Dr.  Alexander  arose  and  delivered  a  discourse, 
of  which  it  would  be  impossible  to  give  a  sketch  that  would  do 
justice  to  it.  The  research  and  industry  of  the  speaker  produced 
an  amount  of  information  that  could  not  be  compressed  into  the 
limits  of  an  ordinarv   discourse.      And   the  richness  of  intellect 


adorned  what  would  in  common  hands  have  been  a  dry  subject. 
He  spoke  between  two  and  three  hours,  and  then  omitted  part  of 
what  he  prepared. 

The  committee  are  authorized  in  saying,  that  the  address  from 
the  imexpected  growth  of  matter,  will  appear  hereafter  under  the 
shape  of  a  history,  and  wUl  afford  they  have  no  doubt  a  rare  grati- 
fication to  those  who  love  and  venerate  their  Alma  Mater. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  discourse,  the  following  hymn  was  simg  : 

I. 

Our  father's  God,  we  come  to  thee  ; 

To  thee  our  grateful  voices  raise ; 
Help  us  on  this  our  Jubilee 

To  join  in  humble,  solemn  praise. 
II. 
Before  the  throne  of  heavenly  grace, 

Ye  sons  of  JVassau,  raise  your  songs : 
The  mercies  of  a  hundred  years 

Demand  your  gratefiil  hearts  and  tongue». 
III. 
Through  all  the  conflicts  of  the  way, 
,    Our  father's  God  has  led  us  on ; 
His  Providence  has  been  our  stay ; 

In  Him  we  liv'd,  in  Him  alone. 
IV. 
A  hundred  years !  A  hundred  years  ! 

Welcome  the  joyful  jubilee  I 
Great  God  !  how  rich  thy  love  appears  1 

How  large  our  mighty  debt  to  thee ! 

v. 

Our  Fathers !  lov'd  and  honour'd  name  ! 

We  love  to  speak  their  hallow'd  praise  ; 
Through  them  what  precious  blessings  came ! 

For  them  our  hearty  thanks  we  raise. 
VI. 
Our  father's  God  still  lives  and  reigns ; 

To  Him  we  look,  in  Him  rejoice : 
His  love  our  confidence  sustains, 

To  Him  we'll  raise  our  grateful  voice. 
VII. 
Smile,  mighty  God,  forever  smile. 

On  this  belov'd,  and  honour'd  place  : 
Here  let  our  sons  forever  come, 

And  always  find  it  wisdom's  home 


8 


DOXOLOGY. 
Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ; 
Praise  him  all  creatures  here  below  ; 
Praise  him  above,  ye  heavenly  host ; 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

In  the  evening  the  representatives  of  the  Junior  Class  delivered 
orations  in  the  following  order  : 

Fayette  Clapp,  Mass. — The  source  of  the  sublime. 
V.  Keirn,  Miss. — The  Spirit  of  Monarchy. 
William  C.  Cattell,  N.  J, — Active  Life. 

Charles  S.  Perkins,  Miss.— Why  has  America  no  National  Lite- 
rature. 
Cornelius  W.  Tolles,  N.  J. — There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men. 
James  Stevenson,  Ireland.— The  faded  Shamrock. 
James  M.  Crowell,  Pa. — Adaptation  of  Science  to  the  Mind. 
Wm.  M.  Gillaspie,  Miss. — The  development  system  of  Philosophy. 

The  speaking  was  good,  and  creditable  to  the  class.  The  Junior 
orations  closed  the  exercises  on  Tuesday.  During  the  day  and 
evening  the  church  was  filled  with  an  audience,  which  for  beauty, 
intellect,  and  respectability  could  scarcely  be  surpassed. 

On  Wednesday,  at  an  early  hour  the  church  was  thronged  to 
hear  the  Orations  by  members  of  the  Senior  Class.  The  exercises 
were 

PR  A  YER  BY  THE  PRESIDEJVT. 

Henry  Rinker,  Pa. — Latin  Salutatory. 

Henry  Clay  Cameron,  D.  C. — English  Salutatory. — Ancient  Lit- 
erature. 

John  M.  Candor,  Illinois. — Development  of  American  Mind. 

T.  Scott  H.  McCay,  Miss. — The  Advantages  of  the  American 
Orator  and  Poet. 

John  Gosman,  N.  Y. — The  True  Principle  of  Action. 

D.  S.  G.  Cabell,  D.  C. — Succe:^  in  Life. 

Henry  B.  Munn,  N.  J.— The  Spirit  of  the  Age. 

Robert  Foster,  N.  J. — Electicism. 

Joseph  M.  Rittenhouse,  N.  J. — The  Claims  of  Truth. 

William  H.  Armstrong,  Pa. — National  Amusements. 

Samuel  B.  Smith,  N.  J. — The  Forgotten  Great. 


Frederic  B.  Ogden,  N.  J. — The  Legal  Profession. 

Edward  P.  Guerard — S.  C— English  Radicalism. 

W.  S.  Whitehead,  N.  J. — The  Religions  of  Nature. 

James  M.  Johns,  Del. — The  Influence  of  Authors. 

William  Wallace  Marsh,  N.  J. — ■'  The  tomb  does  not  take  all 

away." 
Edward  Pugh,  La. — The  Talisman  of  Greatness. 
Heister  Clymer,  Pa. — The  Realization  of  the  Ideal. 
George  M.  Robeson,  N.  J. — Oiu'  Institutions  favourable  to  the 

cultivation  of  Eloquence. 
Samuel  J.  Milliken,  Pa. — Things  seen  and  unseen. 
William  Sergeant,  Pa. — "  Labor  improbus  iion  omnia  vincit." 
Augustine  Fish,  N.  J. — Public   Opinion  not  the   Standard  of 

Truth. 
Wm.  H.  Welsh,  Pa.— A  Poem. 

Hie  Conferring  of  Degrees. 

The  first  degree  of  A.  B.  was  then  duly  conferred  upon  the  fol- 
lowing members  of  the  Senior  Class. 


John  Mercer  Adler,  D.  C. 
Daniel  G.  Anthony,  Pa. 
Wm.  H.  Armstrong,  Pa. 
Frederic  Bacon,  Canada. 
Henry  C.  Bartlett,  N.  Y. 
John  A.  Benbury,  N.  C. 
Wm.  Henry  Berry,  D.  C. 
W.  A.  Blevins,  Ala. 
John  Wesley  Bunn,  N.  J. 
D.  S.  Garland  Cabell,  D.  C. 
Henry  Clay  Cameron,  D.  C. 
John  M.  Candor,  111. 
Thomas  L.  Carothers,  S.  C. 
Robert  B.  Clark,  Md. 
Heister  Clymer,  Pa. 
Thad.  A.  Culbertson,  Pa. 
Alfred  Cuthbert,  Jr.  Ga. 
Aaron  P.  Dalrymple,  N.  J. 
James  F.  Davison,  N.  J. 


James  W.  Dillard,  N.  C. 
Augustine  H.  Fish,  N.  J. 
Polycarp  L.  Fortier,  La. 
Robert  Foster,  N.  J. 
Ezra  J.  Fountain,  N.  J. 
John  Glassell,  jr.  Va. 
John  Gosman,  N.  Y. 
Edward  P.  Guerard,  S.  C. 
James  M.  Johns,  Del. 
Montgomery  Jolins,  Md. 
Eusebius  Lee  Jones,  D.  C. 
Charles  H.  Key,  D.  C. 
Wm.  W.  Marsh,  N.  J. 
Alfred  Martien,  Pa. 
Charles  L.  Maxwell,  Ga. 
T.  Scott  H.  McCay,  Miss. 
Jolm  H.  McKee,  S.  C. 
Charles  McKnight,  Pa. 
Samuel  J.  Milliken,  Pa. 


10 

Samuel  Moore,  Del.  George  W.  Shewalter,  Va. 

Hemy  B.  Munii,  N.  J.  Samuel  B.  Smith,  N.  J. 

Thomas  F.  Murdock,  Pa.  Wm.  Smithpeter,  Temi. 

Frederic  B.  Ogdeii,  N.  J.  J.  H.  Stonestreet,  Md. 

Henry  H.  Oliver,  Ala.  John  H.  Strother,  Mo. 

Samuel  H.  Orton,  N.  J.  Jolm  A.  Swope,  Pa. 

Edward  Pugh,  La.  Henry  Toland,  Pa. 

Henry  Rinker,  Pa.  B.  R.  Wellford,  Jr.,  Va. 

J.  M.  Rittenhouse,  N.  J.  Wm.  H.  Welsh,  Pa. 

George  M.  Robeson,  N.  J.  James  T.  Whitehead,  Ga. 

Wm.  Sergeant,  Pa.  Wm.  S.  Wliitehead,  N.  J. 

N.  A.  C.  Seward,  N.  J.  Alpheus  E.  Willson,  Pa. 

Total  62. 

The  second  degree  in  the  Arts  was  conferred  on  the  foUoAving 
named  gentlemen.  Alumni  of  the  College  : 

Moulton  C.  Rogers,  James  H.  Dundas,  James  McDougall,  Paul 
T.  Jones,  Henry  M.  Beach,  Edward  H.  Bowen,  Joseph  M.  Pinker- 
ton,  Noah  H.  Schenck,  Morven  J.  McClery,  John  Moody,'  Charles 
Scribner,  Thomas  H.  Rodman,  Frank  M.  Levison,  Charles  F. 
Stansljury,  John  Conger,  Jr.,  Wm.  C.  Prime,  John  L.  Crane,  Joseph 
T.  Dillard,  John  S.  Davison,  Wm.  .T.  Gibson,  James  B.  Gibson, 
Frederick  La  Rue  King,  Luther  Littell,David  W.  Eakins,  Samuel 
P.  Hill,  Allen  McFarlane,  Andrew  R.  Martin,  Richard  H.  Richards, 
Charles  W.  Shields,  Henry  H.  Welles,  Edward  H.  Wright,  James 
B.  Everhart,  Wm.  B.  Cross,  Thomas  Ryerson,  Geo.  H.  Newkirk, 
James  S.  Gilliam,  Wm.  Shippen,  Jr.,  William  Pamiill,  Edward  M. 
Dod,  Joseph  H:  Blackfan,  James  C.  Welling,  Henry  Reeves,  A. 
Alexander  Little,  Wm.  Scribner,  Thomas  Sparrow,  Wm.  G.  White- 
ly,  J.  Owen,  Jr.,  Samuel  Motter,  Henry  S.  Little,  Chas.  A.  Bemiett, 
Hugh  T.  Booraem,  John  O.  Marsh,  Wm.  H.  Ballard,  Robert  D. 
Brooke,  Robert  F.  Clark,  Obadiah  M.  Conover,  Wm.  B.  Gulick, 
Wm.  McNair,  Henry  K.  Rees,  Martin  Ryerson,  James  D.  Straw- 
bridge,  Alfred  S.  Williams,  J.  Telford  Boyle,  Samuel  Frierson, 
Philip  Cressman,  Samuel  Sawyer,  Joseph  F.  Garrison,  Richard  H. 
Richardson,  Charles  W.  Shields. 

The  Honorary  degree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  on  the  Rev.  Jona- 
than B.  Condit,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  the  Rev.  Lyman  Coleman, 
of  Princeton. 


11 

The  Honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  the  following 
gentlemen : 

Mr.  William  Vodges,  Philip  Nicldin  Dallas,  and  George  Ham- 
mersley,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Dr.  George  F.  Fort,  of  Monmouth  co. 
N.  J. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  admitted  to  the  second  degree  of 
the  Arts  ad  eundem : 

Edward  Armstrong  of  the  University  of  Pa,,  Henry  J.  Ra3rmond 
of  the  University  of  Vt. 

The  degree  of  A.  B.  was  confeiTed  upon  Charles  Schley,  of  Md. 

Beverley  Randolph  Wellford,  jr.Va. — Valedictory  Oration. 

PRATER  AJVn  BEKEDICTIOJV. 

The  speeches  generally  were  of  a  high  character  for  eloquence. 
A  splendid  band  enlivened  the  occasion  by  playing  between  cer- 
tain of  the  orations. 


THE  DINNER. 

At  4  P.  M.  the  Alumni  and  invited  guests  formed  in  procession, 
and  marched  to  the  Campus  in  the  rear  of  Nassau  Hall,  where 
tables  were  spread  beneath  a  spacious  and  commodious  tent  for 
the  accommodation  of  about  seven  hundred  persons.  The  storm 
of  the  preceding  night  and  morning  had  passed  away  and  had 
given  new  beauty  and  brightness  to  vegetation. 

James  S.  Green,  Esquire,  presided  ;  on  his  right  were  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  College,  Vice  President  Dallas,  Judge  Grier  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  United  States,  and  Judge  Dickerson  of  the  Dis- 
trict Court  of  the  United  States,  the  Chancellor  and  Chief  Justice 
of  the  State,  Chief  Justice  Booth,  and  Chancellor  Johns  of  Dela- 
ware ;  on  his  left,  the  Professors  of  the  Seminary,  Bishop  Doane, 
President  Junkin,  Professor  Olmsted,  Rev.  N.  L.  Prime.  Li  the 
front.  Gov.  Haines,  Pennington,  Stratton,  and  other  ex -Governors 
of  the  State,  Senators  Dayton,  Miller,  and  Cameron,  and  many 
other  distinguished  men. 

The  dinner  was  handsomely  served  by  Messrs.  Bagley,  Macken- 


12 

zie  and  Co.  of  the  Columbia  House,  Philadelphia^  at  the  expense  o( 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  Before  the  company  was  seated,  and  at 
the  request  of  the  President,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  M'Dowell  invoked 
a  blessing.  While  changing  the  courses,  the  following  ode  written 
for  the  occasion  by  Matthias  Ward,  Esq.  was  sung  in  good  taste 
by  Messrs.  Carter,  Alden,  Ilsley  and  Wade,  the  whole  company 
joining  in  the  chorus. 

I. 

TuTTi.     Alma  Mater,  cherish'd  mother, 
Hark!  thy  sons  their  voices  raise  ; 
Loving  kindred,  friend,  and  brother, 
Meet  again  to  hymn  thy  praise. 
Heaven  bless  this  happy  union. 

Mingling  hearts  estrang'd  so  long ; 
Here  once  more  in  fond  communion, 
Old  companions  join  in  song. 

Chorus.     Alma  Mater,  cherish'd  mother, 

Hark  !  thy  sons  their  voices  raise ; 
Loving  kindred,  friend  and  brother, 
Meet  again  to  hymn  thy  praise. 
II. 
War  has  struck  thy  dw^elling  hoary — 

Weak  the  foe,  and  vain  the  fight ; 
Thou  hast  won  a  higher  glory, 
Gentle  peace,  and  truth,  and  right. 
Chorus. — Alrna,  &c. 

III. 
Fire  has  tried  its  fury  o'er  thee, 

Fierce  the  blaze  and  bright  the  flame  j 
Now  the  light  that  glows  before  thee. 
Shines  to  show  the  world  thy  famc^ 
Chorus. — Alma,  &c. 

IV. 
Lo  !  an  hundred  years  departed, 
'  Since  thy  tender  infant  hour  ; 

Stronger  now  and  stouter  hearted, 
Time  has  but  increased  thy  power.. 
Chorus. — Alma,  &c. 
V. 
Thou  hast  rear'd  the  pride  of  nations— 
Thine,  thy  country's  boast  abroad— 
Thine,  who  hold  its  honor'd  stations— 
Thine,  who  teach  the  way  to  God ! 
Chorus. — Alma,  &c. 


13 

VI. 
Never  more  as  thus,  we'll  meet  thee, 

Leaning  on  thy  fost'ring  arm  ; 
May  a  century  bring  to  greet  thee, 
Sonls  as  true  and  hearts  as  warm. 
Chorus. — Alma,  &c. 

vir. 
Good  and  true  men,  gone  before  us. 

Leading  to  the  upward  way  ; 
May  their  spirits  hov'ring  o'er  us, 
Smile  on  Nassau's  natal  day  ! 
Chorus. — Alma,  &c. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  dinner,  the  President,  James  S.  Green, 
Esij.  introduced  very  gracefully  the  toasts,  with  the  following  pre- 
fatory remarks : 

Respected  Guests — The  Committee  of  Arrangements  have 
prepared  several  toasts  or  sentiments  which  it  is  now  proposed  to 
offer. 

To  the  inquiry  where  is  the  wine,  the  committee  respond,  that 
the  wisdom  of  modern  times  has  discovered,  that  entertainments 
like  these  need  not  the  aid  of  wine  to  enliven  them.  There  arc 
occasions,  which  contain  in  themselves  the  elements  of  excitement : 
there  are  classes  of  men,  whose  association  alone,  call  into  action 
the  strongest  and  liveliest  emotions  of  the  heart.  Have  we  not 
here  such  an  occasion — have  we  not  here  an  association  of  such 
men  ?  What  is  the  occasion — the  celebration  of  the  hundredth 
commencement  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey !  Who  are  here  to 
celebrate  this  event  ?  The  sons  of  Nassau  Hall — the  members  of 
a  large  literary  family — after  being  separated  for  many  years, 
brought  together  around  the  festive  board  of  their  Alma  Mater, 
These  sons,  settled  in  different  parts  of  our  widely  extended  repub- 
lic, engaged  in  various  piusuits  and  professions,  visit  once  more 
this  endeared  spot.  Can  it  be  otherwise  than  that  the  incidents  of 
success  or  disappointments  which  have  occurred  to  each  on  the 
pathway  of  life  should  furnish  topics  of  rich  and  interesting  con- 
versation? This  band  of  brothers  have  much  of  thrilling  interest 
to  commmiicate — why  should  we  interrupt  such  communion  of 
thought  by  libations  of  wine  ?  Would  not  such  interruption  be  in 
bad  taste  ?  Would  not  this  declare  to  the  world,  that  we  esteem 
the  indulgence  of  ou.r  animal  nature  superior  to  the  "  feast  of  rea- 


14 

soil  and  flow  of  soul?"'  Our  hearts  are  full  to  overflowing — we 
need  no  additional  excitements — assembled  here  within  classic 
grounds  our  joys  are  the  joys  of  wit  and  learning,  of  the  recollec- 
tions of  bye-gone  days  and  of  sincere  attachment. 

As  we  owe  the  refined  and  intellectual  pleasures  of  this  hour 
under  a  kind  Providence  to  our  time-honoured  Alma  Mater,  let  me 
offer  you  the  first  toast  prepared  by  the  Committee : 

First  Regular  Toast. — Our  venerated  and  beloved  Alma  Ma- 
ter, the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

This  toast  was  received  with  loud  and  enthusiastic  cheering, 

Secn)id  Regular  Toast. — The  memory  of  the  venerable  Presi- 
dents of  Nassau  Hall  A  precious  catalogue  equally  honorable  to 
our  institution,  to  the  cluu'ch  of  God,  and  our  beloved  country. 

The  President  of  the  day  said  that  he  was  reminded  by  the  elo- 
quent and  admirable  historical  discourse  which  had  been  delivered 
the  afternoon  before,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander,  that  he 
might  successfully  apply  to  that  gentleman  for  a  response  to  this 
sentiment. 

The  Reverend  gentleman  arose  amidst  the  warmest  greeting  and 
said  that  he  was  gratified  in  having  an  opportunity  of  supplying 
what  might  have  appeared  to  some  an  unpardonable  omission  in  the 
discourse  delivered  by  him  yesterday  afternoon.  He  had  been  com- 
pelled by  exhaustion  and  want  of  time  to  omit  much.  He  then 
proceeded  to  pay  a  noble  tribute  to  the  memories  of  Doctors  Smith 
and  Green,  he  portrayed  their  fostering  care  of  the  College.  He 
described  the  valuable  services  and  researches  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Stanhope  Smith;  which  had  been  the  basis  of  all  ethnological 
inquiry.  He  stated  some  interesting  facts  and  recollections  of  the 
venerable  Doctor  Ashbel  Green,  one  of  which  was,  that  he  was  the 
first  who  introduced  the  Bible  as  a  regular  study  in  the  College 
course. 

Third  Regular  Toast. — The  memory  of  the  founders  and  first 
board  of  Trustees  of  our  College.  Men  of  large  minds  and  heroic 
hearts.     We  owe  them  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  and  veneration. 

This  called  forth  rapturous  and  repeated  cheers  from  the  com- 
pany. 

Fourth  Regidar  Toast. — The  Governors  of  New  Jersey  from 
.ir47'  to  1847,  our  lionored  patrons  and  benefactors. 


16 

In  giving  ihis  toast  the  President  remarked,  that  among  so  many 
Governors  as  he  saw  around,  he  scarcely  knew  on  whom  to  call, 
but  he  would  venture  to  appeal  to  Gov.  Pennington  whose  maxim 
is  "  semper  paratus," 

Gov.  Pennington  rose  and  said  he  could  not  feel  otherwise  than 
honored,  by  the  President,  in  l3eing  called  upon  to  respond  to  the 
toast  just  given.  The  only  difRculty  he  felt,  was  to  compress  within 
proper  limits,  a  response  to  a  sentiment,  which  covered  a  century  in 
time,  and  involved  a  long  train  of  interesting  events.  He  should 
not  speak  a  word  of  the  Governors  now  living,  most  of  whom 
were  present,  it  would  be  indelicate  to  do  so,  but  he  was  at  liberty 
to  speak  of  the  dead.  And  in  doing  so,  he  felt  the  just  pride  of  a  Jer- 
seyman  in  affirming,  that  no  State  in  the  Union  could  show  a  more 
illustrious  line  of  Cliief  Magistrates  than  New  Jersey,  and  that  too 
as  well  under  the  Colonial  as  the  State  government. 

There  is  something  of  interest,  Mr.  President,  in  a  man's  ances- 
try, something  in  the  stock  from  which  he  is  descended,  and  whether 
its  liistory  be  one  of  honour  or  of  dishonour.  And  in  a  popular  go- 
vernment, certainly,  the  character  of  the  men  who  have  sustained 
the  highest  stations  among  a  people,  will  determine,  more  or  less, 
the  character  of  that  people. 

The  first  Governor,  commencing  a  century  back,  was  Jonathan 
Belcher.  After  being  Governor  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire eleven  years,  he  assumed  by  appointment  of  the  crown,  the 
government  of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  in  1746.  And  in  1748 
he  signed  the  liberal  Charter  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  He 
was  eminently  a  friend  of  learning,  and  if  he  did  not  lay  the  foun- 
dation of  tills  College,  he  did  more  than  any  other  man  at  that  day, 
to  encoiu-age  and  foster  it.  Among  other  services  he  made  the 
College  a  valuable  present  in  a  library,  and  was  ever  foremost  dur- 
ing his  administration,  in  promoting  its  interests.  It  is  doing  no 
small  honour  to  his  memory,  that  we  can  say,  after  experiencing  the 
benefits  of  its  annual  contributions  during  the  intervening  century, 
to  the  learning,  piety  and  patriotism  of  the  country,  that  this  ven- 
erable institution  early  received  an  efficient  impulse  from  this  hon- 
ored Chief  Magistrate,  sent  to  us  in  an  auspicious  horn-  by  thg 
mother  country. 

Upon  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  the  State  in  1776,  William 


16 

J iivingston  was  elected  the  first  Governoi'.  He  was  an  ardent  le- 
pnblican,  and  took  decided  ground  in  the  cause  of  his  comilry. 
The  friend  and  confidant  of  Washington,  he  was  ready  at  all  times 
to  aid  the  cause  of  freedom.  Elected  in  1776,  he  continued  14 
years  in  office,  and  until  removed  by  death.  This  fact,  considering 
the  eventful  times  in  Avhich  he  held  office,  and  that  he  was  annu- 
ally elected,  furnishes  strong  evidence  at  once  ^  of  the  worth  of  the 
man,  and  the  value  of  his  services,  and  the  steadiness  of  the  people 
l3y  whom  he  was  selected  and  sustained. 

Gov.  Livingston  was  succeded  by  William  Paterson,  the  eminent 
jurist,  who  has  the  credit  of  having  framed  the  statute  law  of  the 
State.  After  remaining  a  short  time  in  the  Executive  chair,  Gov. 
Paterson  was  chosen  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  U.  States :  and  I  need  scarcely  add  that  no  man  could  attain 
such  a  station  in  that  day,  without  great  eminence  as  a  lawyer,  and 
great  virtue  as  a  man. 

It  is  sufficient  to  say  of  the  four  immediate  successors  of  Judge 
Paterson,  Governors  Howell,  Bloomfield,  Ogden  and  Pennington, 
that  they  belonged  to  our  golden  age,  the  age  of  the  revolution.  They 
had  fought  the  battles  of  their  country  with  success,  and  carried 
with  them  to  the  grave,  after  lives  of  usefulness  and  honour,  the 
scars  received  in  her  service. 

The  late  Gov.  Williamson,  a  name  familiar  to  us  all,  was  a 
worthy  successor  of  this  illustrious  line  of  veteran  patriots.  As  a 
lawyer,  he  had  no  superiors  in  this  or  any  other  State.  It  is  his 
proud  distinction,  that  during  a  long  public  service,  he  gave  system 
and  order  to  the  Court  of  Chancery,  in  New  Jersey,  and  illustra- 
ted and  established  the  principles  of  equity  in  a  series  of  decisions 
that  constitute  an  imperishable  monument  of  his  fidelity  and  learn- 
ing. Gov.  Williamson  was  in  manner  a  gentleman  of  the  old 
school,  an  ornament  to  the  station  he  filled,  and  he  has  left  a  name 
which  Jerseymen  will  ever  feel  proud  to  honoin*. 

The  last  of  the  honored  dead  whom  it  is  my  privilege  here  to 
name,  is  the  late  Samuel  L.  Southard,  whose  name  can  never  be 
mentioned  among  Jerseymen  without  emotion.  A  favorite  son  of 
New  Jersey  he  was  called  to  fill  many  stations  of  high  rank  and 
influence  both  under  the  State  and  General  Government,  and 
proved  himself  both  competent  and  able  in  them  all.    This  College 


17 

will  long  remember  him  with  honest  pride.  He  never  spoke  of  her 
but  with  filial  affection,  and  her  welfare  was  ever  near  his  heart. 
You  and  I,  Mr.  President,  can  bear  ample  testimony  to  his  zeal  in 
her  cause,  when  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  he  entered, 
into  the  discussion  of  matters  affecting  her  interests.  Gov.  Southard 
in  all  his  personal  relations  and  intercourse  was  eminently  hospita- 
ble, kind  and  generous,  and  wherever  he  was  and  whatever  cir- 
cimistances  surrounded  him,  he  was  always  a  Jerseyman. 

In  conclusion  the  Governor  expressed  the  hope,  that  Jerseymen 
ever  mindful  of  their  honorable  descent  and  the  noble  example  of 
their  fathers,  would  in  their  future  elections  to  fill  the  Executive  chair, 
feel  their  obligation  to  select  none  other  than  patriotic  and  honorable 
men. 

Fifth  Regular  Toast. — The  memory  of  the  long  hue  of  Pro- 
fessors of  Nassau  Hall.  How  much  we  owe  them,  we  can  never 
estimate.  •• 

Md.    Sixth  Regular  Toast. — The  Log  College — the  humble  but  noble 

'/nucleus  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

Sevetith  Regular  Toast. — Our  sister  Colleges  in  the  United 
States — 

" Facieg  non  omnibus  una, 

Nee  diversa  tamen,  qualem  decet  esse  soronim," 

The  President  having  armounced  this  toast  remarked  while  I  see 
before  me  the  representatives  of  many  of  our  sister  Colleges  I  hope 
my  Right  Reverend  friend,  the  President  of  Burlington  College, 
will  favom-  us  with  a  response  to  this  toast. 
Bishop  Doane  arose  and  said : 

Mr.  President, — I  count  it  an  especial  courtesy  that  I,  who 
represent  the  youngest  of  the  fair  and  gracious  sisterhood  of  Col- 
leges, should  so  be  called  upon,  to-day,  to  answer  for  them  all.    A 
coiutesy,  permit  me  to  declare,  which  touches  not  my  heart  alone, 
^L     but  thrills  the  breasts  of  not  a  few  among  New  Jersey's  truest  sons, 
»         who  feel,  as  done  to  them,  the  honour  which  is  paid,  through  me,  to 
}         our  young  College.    An  honoiu,  I  will  add,  which  tliis  great  College 

Kcan  well  afford  to  pay.    A  College,  which  crowns  to-day,  with  so 
much  splendour  the  circle  of  a  centmy.     A  College,  which  has  sent 
forth  through  our  land  the  wisest  statesmen,  the  truest  patriots,  the 
,  most  eloquent  orators,  the  profoundest  philosophers,  of  which  our 

3 


18 

coimtry  boasts.  A  College,  the  jewels  in  whose  chaplet  shine  with 
a  resplendence,  which  fills  our  own  land,  and  is  radiant  abroad :  of 
which  the  ode,  in  which  we  all  united,  but  a  little  time  ago,  most 
justly  says 

"  Thou  hast  reared  the  pride  of  nations ; 
Thine,  thy  country's  boast  abroad  ; 
Thine,  who  hold  its  honored  stations  ; 
Thine,  who  teach  the  way  to  God !" 

^''  Our  Sister  Colleges  of  the  United  States — 

"Facies  non  omnibus  una 
Nee  diversa  tamen  qualem  decet  esse  sororum." 

Which  may  be  rendered  out  of  hand — 

They  seem  not  one, 

And  yet,  not  two ; 
But  look  alike, 

As  sisters  do. 

That  were  a  low  and  mean  requirement,  which  should  hold  all 
Colleges  to  bear  one  aspect.  They  must  be  variouS,  to  meet  the  va- 
rious wants,  the  various  tastes,  the  various  characters,  the  various  cir- 
cumstances of  men.  A  comitry  such  as  ours,  so  vast,  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing, so  diverse  in  its  interests,  so  full  of  mind,  so  full  of  men,  must 
of  necessity  have  many  Colleges.  Theirs  is  a  narrow  view,  who 
look  with  grudging  eye  upon  the  increase,  in  all  direction  s,  of  our 
literary  institutions.  Theirs  is  an  idle  and  unworthy  apprehension, 
who  regard  a  rising  College,  as  the  rival  of  all  those  who  were  be- 
fore it.  No  feelings  such  as  these  possess  your  minds.  I  say  it, 
with  a  grateful  pride,  as  a  true  Jerseyman,  that  from  the  Colleges 
before  established  in  this  state,  the  venerable  College  of  New  Jersey 
here,  and  her  honored  sister,  Rutger's  College,  at  New  Brunswick, 
the  College  which  I  represent  has  receiA^ed  nothing  but  kindness, 
nothing  but  cordiality,  nothing  but  confidence,  from  the  moment  of 
its  first  projection ;  and  I  am  here  before  you  all  to-day,  to  give  my 
solemn  pledge,  for  Bm'lington  College,  that  it  is  reciprocated  and 
returned,  most  fully  and  most  faithfully,  and  shall  be,  while  a  stone 
of  it  shall  stand.  For  we  all  propose  one  end,  the  only  worthy 
end  of  any  College,  to  train  up  patriots  and  christians :  men  that 
shall  serve  with  a  true  heart,  their  coimtry  and  their  God. 

Mr.  President — as  I  look  abroad  upon  this  vast  assemblage,  I 
feel  constrained  to  say,  and  that  in  no  irreverent  spirit,  "  It  is  good 
for  us  to  be  here."     For  the  ends  and  aims  of  this,  our  festive 


19 

gathering,  are  so  high,  so  pure,  so  holy,  that  the  very  words  of  sa- 
cred scripture  may  become  them  well     Surely,  it  "is  good  for  us 
to  be  here."'     Centennial  celebrations,  such  as  this  is,  are  our  appeal 
to  all  the  past.     They  signify  and  certify  that  reaching  back,  to- 
wards the  first  foimtain  of  our  being  which  appertains  to  man,  in 
his  moral  and  immortal  nature.     The  love  of  antiquity  is  an  in- 
stinct of  our  immortality.     It  is  the  impulse  of  the  God  whhin  us. 
its  backward  look,  toward  him  from  whom  we  sprang,  and  in 
whose  image  we  were  made,  is  twin  born  with  the  instinctive 
yearning  for  re-union  with  Him,  hereafter,  in  his  eternal  blessedness 
and  glory.     I  feel  tha.t  ^'  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here,"  as  a  testimonial 
before  all  the  world,  of  our  devotion  to  tJte  cause  of  JEdiicaiiou.     It 
is  the  noblest  cause  which  can  enlist  our  hearts  and  animate  our 
hands.     The  highest  and  truest  interest  of  our  country.    Nay,  the 
highest  and  truest  interest  of  man.    His  training  to  be  useful  here. 
His  training  for  eternal  happiness  in  Hea,ven.     For  when  we  speak 
of  Education,  we  mean,  and  all  men  know  we  mean,  to  speak  of 
Christian  Education.     The  nurture  and  the  training  of  the  body, 
of  the  mind,  and  of  the  heart.     The  nurture  and  the  training  of  a 
moral  and  immortal  nature.     The  day  has  passed,  thank   God, 
when  these  things  might  be  severed.     The  day  has  passed  when 
they  must  be  divorced,  whom  God  has  joined  together.     Lord 
Brougham  himself  has  lived  to  own  the  fallacy  of  his  OAvn  scheme. 
It  is  admitted  now,  that  to  attempt  to  educate  without  the  Gospel, 
is  to  rear  a  superstructure  where  there  is  no  foundation.     It  is  ad- 
mitted nov/,  that  every  hope  of  man's  improvement,  that  every  in- 
terest of  human  life,  that  every  institution  of  our  country,  demands 
that  Education  shall  be  Christian  Education ;  its  highest  end,  its 
noblest  aim,  the  restoration  in  man's  fallen  nature,  of  that  divine  and 
gracious  image,  in  which  it  first  was  made.     And  I  am  not  ashamed 
to  say  that  I  rejoice  to  be  here,  as  it  is  a,  rallying  of  Jerseymen,  and 
of  the  friends  of  Jerseymen.     They  Avho  are  here  we.re  either 
born  amongst  us,  or  have  had  nurture  here.     They  have  come 
back  to  the  fountain,  which  gave  vigour  to  tlieir  youth.     Come  to 
renew  their  vows  of  love.     Come  to  refresh  and  reinvigorate  their 
spirits.     Come  to  resume  the  race  of  study  and  of  glory,  with  a  new 
and  nobler  impulse.     It  is  upon  the  soil  of  our  beloved  Jersey,  that 
we  gather  liere  to-da^'',  and  the  effect  will  be,  and  therefore  I  rejoice 


20 

to  draw  the  e^^es  and  minds  of  men  to  that,  for  which  New  Jersey 
is  es]3ecially  adapted.  I  have  long  tliought,  and  once  before  have 
said  that  the  true  interest  of  New  Jersey  is  the  educating  inter- 
est. We  cannot  cope  with  other  States,  in  the  extent  of  territory. 
We  cannot  cope  with  them  in  numbers  or  in  wealth.  We  cannot 
cope  with  them  in  commerce.  But  in  her  geographical  position,  in 
her  beauty  and  salubrity  of  soil  and  climate,  in  her  accessibleness 
from  everywhere,  in  her  well  ordered  institutions,  in  her  pure 
morals,  in  her  simple  manners,  in  aU  her  social  interests  and  influ- 
ences. New  Jersey  is  unrivalled,  as  a  seat  of  Education.  This  is 
beginning  to  be  felt.  This  will  be  felt  more  with  every  year.  It  is 
owned  at  the  North.  It  is  admitted  by  the  South.  It  is  acknowl- 
edged from  the  West.  It  is  our  great  work.  Our  work  for  the 
country.  Oiu  work  for  man.  Our  work  for  God.  To  train  the 
fathers  and  the  mothers  of  a  Patriot  and  Christian  race :  this  is 
our  work.     liCt  us  arise  and  do  it ! 

"Our  sister  Colleges  of  the  United  States — 

* -fades  non  omiiibus  una, 

A^ec  diversa  tamen ;  qualem  decet  esse  sororum.'  " 

There  is  as  much  of  wisdom,  in  the  langiiage  chosen  to  express 
this  sentiment,  as  there  is  of  real  poetry.  "  Our  Sister  Colleges !" 
It  is  the  thought  of  all,  to  take  the  hearts  of  men.  The  truest 
thought  that  this  connection  could  employ.  Who  has  not  felt  the 
soothing  of  a  Sister's  hand  ?  Who  has  not  felt  the  cheering  of  a 
Sister's  voice  ?  Who  has  not  felt  the  charming  of  a  Sister's  eye  ? 
What  else  comes  so  in  aid  of  the  parental  influence  ?  What  else 
so  soon  exerts  its  sway  with  brothers  and  with  sons  ?  What  else 
retains  its  hold  so  long  in  manly  hearts ?  "  Our  Sister  Colleges" 
the  soothers,  and  the  cheerers,  and  the  charmers  of  our  youth ! 
SororesformosfP,  almm  matres. 

Mr.  President — before  I  close,  I  have  a  privilege  to  claim.  There 
is  a  name,  which  all  this  day  has  been  in  all  my  thoughts,  which 
I  must  name  before  I  take  my  seat.  It  is  the  name  of  one,  whose 
noble  heart  would  have  exulted  in  this  cheering  spectacle ;  would 
have  run  over,  with  delighted  joy,  at  this  great  triumph  of  his  Col- 
lege, and  his  State ;  would  have  assented  to  every  word  that  I  have 
uttered ;  would  have  sympathised  with  every  feeling  that  I  have 
felt.    I  hope  that  you,  and  all  who  have  a  better  right  than  T.  who 


21 

am  not  of  your  College,  but  am  yet  a  Jerseyman,  to  name  this 
name,  will  pardon  me  for  naming  it.  I  propose  to  you,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, THE  BEAUTIFUL  AND  BELOVED  MEMORY  OF   PrOFESSOR  DoD. 

This  was  received  by  the  company  with  deep  emotion  and  uni- 
versal silence. 

After  a  few  moments  pause,  the  President  remarked  that  the  re- 
sponse to  the  sentiment  from  our  youngest  sister  was  so  much  in 
unison  with  the  feelings  of  the  company,  that  he  could  not  refrain 
from  asking  a  few  remarks  from  Professor  Olmsted  on  behalf  of  an 
elder  sister. 

He  arose  and  after  a  few  introductory  remarks,  proceeded  as 
follows : 

1  come,  Mr.  President,  specially  delegated  from  the  President  and 
Faculty  of  Yale  College,  to  convey  to  the  honored  guardians,  the 
Faculty,  and  the  Alumni,  of  this  venerable  seat  of  learning,  their 
most  respectful  salutations.  I  am  glad  that  this  interesting  duty 
has  been  assigned  to  me,  since  it  has  given  me  an  opportunity  of 
hearing  and  seeing  so  much,  that  is  fitted  to  enlist  the  sympathies, 
and  awaken  the  enthusiasm  of  every  scholar.  How  delightful  are 
these  occasions,  wliich  assemble  in  one  joyous  band,  beneath  the 
shades  of  their  revered  Alma  Mater,  the  oldest  and  the  youngest 
of  her  sons ! 

Thus  stands  an  aged  elm  in  ivy  bound, 
Thus  youthful  ivy  clasps  an  elm  around. 

Blest  be  the  golden  chain,  which  here  entwines  itself  around  all 
hearts,  binding  trustees  to  faculty  and  students,  preceptors  to  pupils, 
and  classmate  to  classmate,  while,  through  every  liiilv,  from  pole  to 
pole,  flashes  the  electric  fire  !  Few  situations  in  the  world  appear 
to  me  so  favored  of  heaven  as  the  lot  of  the  collegiate  instructer. 
In  addition  to  his  intrinsic  sources  of  happiness,  arising  from  the 
very  nature  of  his  employment,— the  delightful  task  of  imbibing 
truth  at  its  fountains,  and  of  pouring  it  into  the  opening  minds  of 
youth— he  becomes  as  he  advances  in  life,  rich  in  friends.  Hav- 
ing been  long  in  the  ranks  of  instructers,  it  is  my  high  privilege, 
whenever  I  go  abroad,  to  meet,  at  almost  every  step,  some  of  my 
former  pupils— some  far  onward  in  the  race  of  life,  and  some  just 
entering  the  arena ;  but  wherever  found,  or  whatever  age,  still  our 


22 

hearts  kindle  as  we  meet,  and  as  they  give  the  friendly  grasp,  I 
feel  the  warm  cm-rent  flow  into  my  soul 

"  0  fortunatos  nimium,  sua  si  bona  norint, 
Agricolas  !" 

No  husbandmen  are  so  fortunate,  as  those  who  devote  themselves 
to  the  culture  of  the  youthful  mind.  I  shall  ever  account  it  one  of 
the  happiest  events  of  my  life,  that  I  have  been  permitted  to  parti- 
cipate in  this  interesting  centennial  celebration;  and  my  fervent 
aspirations  shall  ascend,  that  Nassau  Hall,  already  fertile  in  great 
and  good  men,  nif.y  continue  to  bless  our  land  to  the  latest  genera- 
tions. 

Three  hearty  cheers  were  then  given  for  the  elder  and  younger 
of  the  sisterhood. 

Eighth  Regular  Toast. — The  Simithsonian  Institute — A 
higlr  national  trust.  May  that  trust  be  so  discharged  as  to  make  it 
a  great  Light  House,  not  only  to  the  United  States,  but  to  the 
world. 

In  announcing  this  sentiment  the  President  in  a  few  well-chosen 
words,  called  upon  Vice  President  Dallas,  tlie  Chancellor  of  the 
Institute  for  a  response.  He  arose,  and  spoke  in  substance  as  fol- 
lows : 

My  connection,  Mr.  President,  with  the  Smithsonian  Institution, 
so  honorably  and  kindly  noticed,  is  merely  "  ex  officio'^ — the  act  of 
Congress  for  its  establishment  constituting  the  Vice  President  of 
the  United  States,  during  his  term  of  cfHce.  a  member  of  its  Board 
of  Management.  I  can  claim  no  other  but  this  slight  ground  for 
venturing  to  reply  to  your  call  as  its  representative  here. 

There  are  some  sentiments,  however,  springing  directly  out  of 
the  occasion,  which  I  wish  first  to  express  :  especially,  after  having 
listened  to  several  addresses  from  brothers — Alumni character- 
ized by  a  very  ardent  and  appropriate  tone  of  exultation  and 
delight. 

To  me,  Sir,  it  has  been  all  day,  and  ii  would  still  be,  far  easier 
to  muse  and  feel  than  to  think  or  speak.  There  are  times  when 
we  are  perhaps  too  forcibly  struck  by  the  transient  nature  of  what 
we  have  most  cherished  and  revei-ed.  Some  may  be  present  who, 
like  myself,  after  many  5^ears  of  absence  from  these  academic 
scenes,  and  having  spent  two-ihirds  of  life  in  active  toil,  return,  as 


•23 

rapid  visitors,  to  experience  no  exclusive  sense  of  enjoyment,  but 
rather  one  mingled  as  well  of  pain  as  of  pleasure  and  pride.  I 
have  wandered  about  Princeton  this  whole  morning,  in  pursuit  of 
persons  and  objects  that  yet  live  glowingly  in  my  memory  :  and  I 
have  found  nothing  remaining,  familiar  to  my  eye  or  to  my  heart, 
except  the  stone  walls  of  the  College  !  There  those  walls  stand,  it 
is  true,  with  the  same  cold  and  grave  colour :  looking  as  imperish- 
able as  ever :  but  where  are  the  adjuncts  by  which  they  were  sur- 
rounded ? — the  human  beings  and  the  favorite  haunts  with  which 
I  associate  them,  and  whose  absence  seems  so  to  strip  the  scene  as 
to  inspire  a  mood  of  melancholy  meditation  ? 

Sir,  I  should  like  to  retreat,  with  the  only  two  of  my  classmates 
whom  I  have  met,  (Chancellor  Johns,  of  Delaware,  and  Mr.  Mat- 
thias O.  Halstead,  of  New  Jersey,)  into  some  secluded  corner  of 
that  firm  old  edifice,  and  quietly  recal  the  incidents  of  forty  years 
ago !  I  should  like  to  talk,  to  talk  slowly  and  long,  of  Samuel 
/Stanhope  Smith  !  the  erudite  scholar,  the  polished  gentleman,  the 
affectionate  teacher,  and  the  pious  orator :  beloved  and  honoured 
by  his  pupils  ;  and  whom  I  last  parted  with  as  a  warm  and  gene- 
rous friend '  Where  is  he  now  ?  and  where  the  numerous,  accom- 
plished, and  attractive  groups  that  graced  his  domestic  circle  ? 
Dispersed,  disappeared,  gone  !  Where  is  the  learned  and  venera- 
ted linguist  Thompson  ? — in  an  unseen  grave  :  and  our  thousand 
footsteps,  as  we  hastened  to  this  feast,  brushed  unconsciously  and 
heedlessly  over  the  very  spot  on  which  his  rural  homestead  stood.* 
The  Mathematician — the  clear-headed  and  warm-hearted  Maclean 
— whose  profound  science,  set  off  by  a  guileless  manner  and  the 
gentlest  temper,  like  a  diamond  encased  in  pearls,  riveted  the  high- 
est and  fondest  regard :  he,  too,  has  sunk  to  the  same  tranquil  re- 
pose, though  leaving,  as  his  successor,  a  worthy  son  to  repeat  his 
career  and  remind  us  of  his  virtues. 

My  search,  among  the  pilgrims  whom  this  hundredth  Anniver- 
sary has  allured  back  to  the  shrine  of  education,  for  my  own  spe- 
cial companions  in  study,  proved  equally  sad.  Two  are  here,  two- 
thirds  are  no  more ! 

And  I  have  gazed  beyond  the  college  bounds,  in  my  moody 

*  His  house  has  been  removed,  and  the  walk  passes  over  the  ground  where  it 
stood. 


24 

exploration,  and  have  asked  where  is  the  patriot,  the  strong  law- 
yer, the  man  of  bomidless  hospitality,  Richard  Stockton  ?  Gone 
for  ever :  and  even  he  whose  veins  swell  with  his  gallant  blood 
is  many  thousands  of  miles  away,  perilling  his  life  in  the  cause 
of  a  country  his  fathers  aided  to  found !  And  where  is  Samuel 
Bayard  ?  and  Morford  ?  and  Macmackin  ?  and  Voorhees  5^ 
and  Clark  ? — and  many,  many  others  ? 

Sir,  the  avenues  and  highways,  the  Chiu'ch  and  the  College,  the 
literary  Halls,  and  the  Library,  are  all  crowded  to  overflowing  : 
but  to  the  invocations  of  my  memory,  their  echoes  seem  to  re- 
turn as  from  an  empty  solitude ! 

But,  Mr.  President,  I  am  trespassing :  the  vast  majority  of  those 
who  hear  me  can  have  little  or  no  sympathy  with  these  reflections. 
They  find  their  honored  chief  still  adorning  his  important  post, 
tJmr  professors  still  ui  the  full  tide  of  usefulness  and  reputation, 
and  the  associates  and  friends  of  their  early  happiness,  with  radiant 
smiles  and  extended  arms,  eager  to  renew  their  welcome.  Such  a 
sight  wins  one  away  from  sombre  retrospection.  I  yield  to  its  ex- 
hilirating  influence  all  my  heart ;  and  feel  a  glow  of  pleasure  and 
of  pride,  as  I  remark  the  numberless  improvements  which  have 
sprung  up  since  my  departure.  The  advanced  system  of  tuition ; 
the  lengthened  catalogue  of  attending  students ;  the  co-operating 
chairs  of  theology  and  law :  those  two  classical  structmes  conse- 
crated to  friendship  and  literature,  whose  white  Ionic  columns  shine 
so  beautifully  in  contrast  with  the  verdure  of  the  Campus  :  the  ris- 
ing architectural  neatness  of  that  Hall  of  Prayei* :  those  majestic  and 
umbrageous  trees :  that  iron  railing,  dividing  the  academic  shade 
and  the  busy  thoroughfare :  the  commodious  brick  mansion  that 
overlooks  the  site  of  the  once  flower-embosomed  cottage  of  Dr. 
Thompson:  these,  and  various  other  striking  and  advantageous 
changes,  attesting  an  onward  course  of  cultivation  and  of  character, 
I  contemplate  with  delight.  Our  Alma  Mater  keeps  pace  with 
the  march  of  mind ;  and  now  merits  the  gratitude  of  a  nation  to- 
wards whose  best  wealth,  the  wealth  of  intellect  and  virtue,  she 
has  made  her  annual  contributions  for  a  rounded  century ! 

And  now,  Mr.  President,  a  few  words  on  the  allusion  which 
called  me  to  my  feet.  The  Smithsonian  Institution  originated  in 
the  legacy  of  a  British  subject,  whose  wiU  devotes  it  to  the  increase 


25 

and  diffusion  of  knowledge  among  men.  We  can  but  conjecture 
his  motive  for  selecting  the  American  government  as  the  agent, 
and  the  American  people  as  the  immediate  beneficiaries,  of  his 
plan.  His  foot  had  never  touched  our  soil :  he  knew  very  few,  if 
any,  of  our  citizens ;  and  of  the  practical  working  of  our  institu- 
tutions,  whose  principles  he  must  have  read  of  and  admired,  he 
was  wholly  ignorant.  Sm-rounded,  in  every  section  of  Europe,  by 
learned  societies  and  establishments,  with  some  of  which  he  was 
connected,  why  did  he  not  secm^e  the  fame  which  they  can  readily 
bestow,  by  depositing  Ms  fortune  in  their  care  ?  Was  it,  that  he 
knew  them  too  little  to  appreciate  them  highly  ?  Or  was  it,  that 
he  knew  them  too  well,  to  be  able  to  repress  a  distrust  as  to  the 
faithful  and  efficient  pursuit  of  his  philanthropic  object?  James 
Smithson,  in  his  ultimate  testamentary  disposition,  seems  to  have 
been  exclusively  impelled  by  a  devoted  fondness  and  exalted  esti- 
mate of  Knowledge  :  not  learning,  not  erudition,  not  this  or  that 
Science  or  Art,  not  book- wisdom  alone,  not  speculative  philosophy 
only ;  but  broad,  comprehensive,  universal  Knowledge  ;  and  for 
the  dissemination  of  that  among  his  fellow  beings,  miimpeded  by 
prejudice,  bigotry,  rank,  corruption  or  injustice,  he  could  discern  no 
theatre  so  promising,  so  safe,  or  so  vast,  as  society's  fresh  and  free 
organization  in  this  western  world.  He  was  not  mistaken.  Mind 
is  at  work  in  the  United  States  on  a  scale  never  before  witnessed. 
The  Pierian  spring  is  more  eagerly  visited  here,  and  its  deep  drafts 
coveted  by  greater  numbers,  than  any  where  else.  Yes,  Sir,  the 
noble  bequest  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  for  the  increase 
and  diffusion  of  knowledge,  is  placed  where  the  condition  and  spirit 
of  men  are  best  prepared  to  receive  and  develope  its  advantages. 

The  scheme  of  operation  by  which  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
may  effect  the  object  of  its  mimificent  founder  can  scarcely  yet  be 
considered  as  matured.  I  could  not  undertake  its  explanation 
without  an  mireasonable  encroachment  upon  your  time.  Under 
the  elaborating  hands  of  zealous  genius,  many  parts  of  the  system 
have  taken  distinct  and  definite  delineation  :  some  soon  to  be  prac- 
tically tried,  others  waiting  preliminary  arrangements  and  collec- 
tions :  but  that  of  wliich  we  are  at  liberty  to  congratulate  ourselves, 
as  a  matter  placed  out  of  the  reach  of  risk,  is  the  recorded  resolu- 
tion of  the  national  government  to  assume  and  execute  the  trust. 

4 


26 

The  Institution  created  by  act  of  Congress,  though  neither  Univer- 
sity, College,  nor  Academy,  is  of  a  kindred  character,  and,  as  such, 
is  fairly  entitled,  in  its  infant  movement,  to  the  good  will  and  en- 
couraging cheer  you  have  so  cordially  expressed  from  Nassau  Hall. 
I  hope,  Sir,  that  they  to  whose  guardianship  its  progress  is  confided 
will  discharge  the  duty  under  an  abiding  sense  of  responsibility, 
not  merely  to  their  own  country,  but  to  the  entire  human  family. 
Our  aim  wiU  be,  by  persevering  efforts  of  every  sort,  to  obey  the 
injunction  of  Smithson,  and  give  to  Knowledge  its  largest  growth 
and  widest  expansion.  I  need  hardly  tell  those  who  hear  me  that, 
for  this  spirit  and  the  tenor  of  our  way,  we  have  given  a  pledge  at 
once  direct  and  indisputable :  we  have  invoked  and  obtained  the 
co-operation  of  one  of  the  recognized  heads  of  American  Science — 
your  own  peerless  Henry  ! 

The  mention  of  the  name  of  Professor  Henry,  who  was  detained 
from  the  entertainment  by  indisposition,  produced  a  imiversal  burst 
of  appreciation  from  the  assemblage. 

Ninth  Regular  Toast. — Popular  Education.  May  it  be  univer- 
sal, and  everywhere  bear  the  stamp  of  the  Bible ;  the  only  basis  of 
social  order,  of  rational  freedom,  and  true  happiness. 

Tenth  Regular  Toast. — The  Alumni  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  who  have  been  distinguished  for  their  talents,  their  learning 
and  their  public  services.  To  these  their  Alma  Mater  ma^r  point 
and  say,  in  the  language  of  the  Roman  mother — "  these  are  my 
jewels.''^ 

In  looking  over  the  upturned  faces  of  the  assembly,  the  President 
fixed  his  attention  upon  the  Rev.  N.  S.  Prime,  of  New  York,  one  of 
the  few  remaining  representatives  of  the  class  of  1804,  who  arose 
in  obedience  to  the  call  and  said  : 

Mr.  President — A  sentiment  so  flattering  as  that  wliich  has  just 
been  presented,  and  one  so  deeply  marked  by  parental  partiality 
and  pride,  assuredly  demands  a  most  grateful  response.  It  was 
courteous,  and  even  proper  for  you,  sir,  to  caU  upon  one  of  the 
elder  graduates — the  lingering  remnants  of  a  second  generation  in 
this  revered  institution — to  perfomi  tliis  duty.  My  only  regret  is 
that  out  of  the  230  survivors,  who  are  my  seniors,  and  who  are  so 
largely  and  so  ably  represented  on  this  joyous  occasion,  your  e^^e 
should  not  have  lighted  on  a  more  competent  individual.  But  I 
may  without  arrogance  aver,  that  the  service  could  not  have  l^een 


27 

committed  to  one  who  possesses  a  more  grateful  heart.  And  in 
making  this  remark,  I  mean  nothing  in  disparagement  of  the  filial 
affection  of  my  respected  brethren,  present  or  absent,  to  each  and 
every  one  of  whom,  I  cheerfully  accord  an  equal  participation  in 
the  affectionate  devotion  of  dutiful  and  grateful  sons. 

In  the  interesting  exercises  of  yesterday,  the  patriotism  of  our 
fraternity  received  a  high  and  deserved  encomium,  in  the  indispu- 
table fact,  that  among  all  our  numerous  family,  there  never  has 
been  found  "  a  Princeton  Tori/."  I  am  bold  to  make  an  equally  tm- 
qualified  claim,  that  of  all  her  two  thousand  eight  hundred  hon- 
oured sons,  Nassau  Hall — our  beloved  Alma  Mater — has  never 
nursed  and  reared  an  ungrateful  child.  Of  this  entire  number, 
who  have  successively  occupied  these  hallowed  grounds,  conse- 
crated by  the  blood  of  patriotism  and  the  prayers  of  piety,  who 
have  walked  these  charming  groves,  sacred  to  the  muses,  and  been 
niu-tured  in  yonder  halls,  the  abode  of  literature  and  science,  every 
heart  without  a  single  exception,  has  imbibed  the  flame  of  filial  af- 
fection, that  has  never  abated,  nor  been  extinguished,  but  by  the 
icy  hand  of  death.  In  all  the  diversified  occupations  of  life — amid 
all  the  varied  circumstances  of  this  changeful  life — under  the  smiles 
and  frowns  of  a  capricious  world,  the  fondest  recollections  of  each 
and  every  individual,  have  been  directed  to  Nassau  Hall,  and  the 
fervent  aspirations  of  their  grateful  hearts,  have  ascended  to  heaven 
for  the  continued  prosperity  of  Alma  Mater. 

More  than  500  (nearly  one-ffth  of  the  whole  number)  have  been 
heralds  of  the  cross ;  of  whom  I  have  the  honour  to  be  one  of  the 
humblest  individuals, — others  have  largely  shared  in  the  honours 
and  responsibilities  of  our  beloved  country — a  few  have  been  un- 
distinguished, and  still  fewer  have  fallen  hapless  victims  to  the 
baser  passions  of  our  fallen  nature.  But  not  an  individual  has  been 
found  who  has  lost  his  attachment  to  the  maternal  bosom  that 
nursed  him.  I  have  often  seen  a  degraded  individual,  once  an  ac- 
knowledged brother,  who  had  become  a  slave  to  the  giant  vice  of 
former  days,  and  finally  closed  his  miserable  career  in  an  abnshouse, 
whose  chief  delight  in  his  insane  peregrinations  for  years  consisted 
in  passing  encomiums  on  his  Alum  Mater ;  and,  in  testimony  of 
what  he  accomplished,  under  her  tutelage,  and  of  what  he  might 
have  been)  but  for  the  voluntary  servitude  of  a  depraved  appetite, 


would  retail  willi  ease  and  elegance,  wliole  pages  of  die  classics, 
Mr.  P.  concluded  with  an  impressive  admonition  to  his  brethren 
of  the  alumni. 

Eleventh  Regular  Toast. — Tlie  Ldlerary  Societies  of  Nassau 
Hall.  May  they  ever  deeply  feel  how  much  it  is  in  their  power  to 
minister  to  the  strength,  the  enlargement  and  true  glory  of  their 
honored  mother. 

The  President  said,  my  call  for  a  response  to  this  sentiment  is 
made  to  Walter  C.  Preston,  Esq.,  a  graduate  member  of  the  Clio- 
sophic  Society. 

Mr.  Preston  answered  in  strains  of  fervid  eloquence,  in  which 
he  set  forth  the  advantages  of  the  Societies  in  tiie  cause  of  educa- 
tion and  literature. 

The  President  then  called  upon  the  Hon.  John  Thomson  Mason, 
a  graduate  member  of  the  American  Whig  Society,  who  rose  and 
in  substance  said : 

Mr.  President :  After  what  has  been  so  eloquently  and  toucliingly 
said  by  others,  modesty  perhaps  Avould  require  that  I  should  with- 
hold my  humble  tribute  from  this  rich  intellectual  feast.  The 
flattering  manner  however  with  which  you  have  called  upon  me 
to  respond  to  the  sentiment  just  read,  and  the  deep  interest  I  feel 
in  the  scene  that  surroimds  us,  leave  me  no  other  alternative  but  to 
make  my  acknowledgement  for  the  honour  you  have  done  me,  and 
to  attempt  in  a  feeble  manner  to  pour  forth  those  emotions  of  the 
heart  which  are  always  awakened  by  scenes  like  the  present,  and 
by  the  allusion  to  joys  that  are  past.  My  only  regret  is,  sir,  that 
some  one  more  competent  to  the  task  than  myself,  had  not  been 
called  upon  to  give  utterance  to  those  feelings  which  are  inspired 
by  the  sentiment  which  has  just  been  offered. 

The  American  Whig  and  Cliosophic  Societies !  What  a  crowd 
of  tender  and  touching  memories  are  awakened  by  the  mention  of 
those  names ! 

"  Lulled  in  the  countless  chambers  of  the  brain, 
Our  thoughts  are  linked  by  many  a  hidden  chain, 
Awake  but  one,  and  lo,  what  myriads  rise." 

Memory,  faithful  to  her  trust,  restores  to  us  on  this  interesting 
occasion,  friends  that  are  gone  to  return  no  more — scenes  that  are 
passed  never  again  to  be  reacted,  and  although  years  have  passed 
since  many  of  us  met,  yet  the  memory  of  other  days  comes  crowd- 


39 

nig  upon  me  witii  such  overpowering  force,  thai  methnilis  I  hear 
the  familiar  voices  of  long  lost  companions,  and  feel  the  warm 
touch  of  hands  which  in  truth  I  shall  never  grasp  again. 

Mr.  President,  this  Institution  possesses  an  excellence,  which  I 
have  never  known  possessed  by  any  other,  at  least  to  the  same  ex- 
tent. It  consists  in  being  able  to  stamp  npon  the  mind  of  its  youth- 
ful alumni,  an  attachment  for  his  Alma  Mater,  which  no  time  nor 
circumstance  can  efface.  In  after  life,  neither  age  nor  infirmities 
— neither  prosperity  nor  misfortune — neither  honom*  nor  disgrace, 
can  turn  us  from  our  first  love,  but  as  as  the  affectionate  child  re- 
members the  tenderness  of  its  parent,  and  the  early  joys  of  home, 
so  do  our  affections  cluster  around  this  endeared  spot,  which  is 
known  to  us  all  as. 

Sweet  Princeton,  "  loveliest  village  of  the  plain." 

And  whence  does  this  attachment  spring "?  Sir,  it  has  its  origin 
in  the  literary  societies  connected  with  the  College.  It  was  there 
that  this  bud  of  friendship  and  attacliment  first  unfolded  itself,  nur- 
tured by  the  closest  confidential  intercourse — it  Avas  there  that  was 
implanted  in  onr  virgin  breasts  much  that  is  valuable  in  life  and 
noble  in  character — it  was  there  that  was  cultivated  that  fraternal 
feeling  which  has  since  matured  into  permanent,  enduring  friend- 
ship— it  was  there,  in  the  quiet  of  night,  while  others  were  lost  in 
sleep,  or  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  solitude,  in  idleness  or  in  dissi- 
pation, that  we  were  forming  those  ties  of  attachment  for  one  an- 
other and  for  our  Alma  Ma,ter,  which  time  has  but  strengthened, 
and  by  the  force  of  which,  and  after  the  lapse  of  many  years,  we 
are  now  di'awn  together  with 

"  Souls  as  true  and  hearts  as  warm," 

as  they  were  when  years  ago  we  left  these  peaceful  shades  to  enter 
upon  the  scenes  of  active  life. 

Let  those  two  literary  societies,  however,  remember,  that  the  ex- 
istence of  the  one,  depends  upon  the  existence  of  the  other ;  and 
that  if  that  spirit  of  emulation,  which,  when  kept  within  its  proper 
limits,  is  the  life  blood  of  them  both,  should  be  suffered  to  become 
wicked  and  licentious,  and  should  lead  to  the  destruction  of  one  of 
those  bright  sisters,  the  survivor  when  deprived  of  her  fostering 
companion,  must  soon  sicken  and  die,  and  with  the  parent  of  them 
both  early  fill  one  common  grave. 


30 

May  such  a  result  be  forever  averted,  and  may  they  continue  to 
grow  in  strength,  wisdom,  learning  and  virtue,  is  the  sincere  prayer 
of  one  who  has  deeply  at  heart  their  welfare  and  usefulness. 

Twelfth  Regular  Toast. — Let  the  motto  of  our  College  be  that 
of  the  "  Empire  State,"  "  Excelsior" — unlimited  enlargement  and 
improvement. 

Thirteenth  Regular  Toast. — The  venerated  Mothers  of  our 
land.  Their  early  and  wise  instruction  is  the  best  human  prepar- 
ation for  a  successful  and  happy  College  coiurse. 

The  regular  toasts  having  been  gone  through  with,  the  venerable 
Dr.  Miller,  rose  and  proposed — 

The  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.D.  L.L.D. — Our  venerated  eighth 
President :  We  honour  him  as  the  first  Head  of  a  College  in  the 
United  States,  who  introduced  the  study  of  the  Bible  as  a  regular 
part  of  the  Collegiate  course.  Sero  iti  caelum,  ascendat !  And,  when 
he  shall  be  taken  up,  we  may  well  say  with  the  bereaved  Prophet  of 
old — "my  Father,  my  Father,  the  chariots  of  Israel,  and  the  horse- 
men thereof!" 

The  President  stated,  that  he  had  visited  his  father.  Dr.  Green, 
the  week  before  Commencement,  to  see  if  his  physical  strength 
would  bear  the  fatigue  of  a  visit  to  Princeton.  I  found  him  in  his 
study,  reading  his  Greek  Testament ;  I  gave  him  a  pressing  invi- 
tation, but  he  declined  it.  "  I  cannot  go,"  said  he ;  "  my  bodily  in- 
firmities are  such  that  1  should  be  a  burden  to  my  friends.  A  man 
in  his  86th  year  ought  not  to  leave  home.  I  should  love  dearly  to 
be  at  the  gathering  of  the  sons  of  the  College ;  I  have  many  be- 
loved pupils  among  them.  I  cannot  go,  but  one  thing  I  can  do,  or 
you  can  do  it  for  me :  give  my  love  to  them." 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Miller  then  offered  the  following: 

The  Reverend  Doctor  James  W.  Alexander — Our  able  and 
honoured  Centennary  Historian.  We  thank  him  that  he  has  so 
instructively  and  eloquently  told  us  what  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
hns  done.  We  hope  he  will  live  to  see  her  accomplish  far  greater 
things  than  these. 

Dr.  Alexander  very  briefly  recognized  this  honourable  mark  of 
attention,  and  increased  the  obligations  of  his  audience  by  a  few 
further  interesting  reminiscences,  in  which  he  mentioned  the  hon- 
oured names  of  many  distinguished  alumni  whom  the  College  had 
contributed  to  the  highest  posts  in  cliurch  and  state. 


31 

The  Reverend  Dr.  John  Maclean  then  offered  the  foiiowing : 

Chief  Justice  Green — May  the  pupils  of  Nassau's  Law  School 
emulate  the  learning,  and  wisdom  of  its  distinguished  orator. 

To  which  the  Cliief  Justice  replied  in  a  felicitous  mamier,  assur- 
ing the  learned  Professor — that  if  he  deserved  any  credit  for  classi- 
cal learning  it  was  due  to  him  as  his  teacher.  He  then  pronounced 
a  short  but  eloquent  eulogy  upon  the  late  Hon.  Tapping  Reeve,  an 
alumnus  of  the  College,  and  for  some  time  one  of  its  tutors :  and 
the  founder  of  the  Law  School  at  Litchfield,  Comiecticut,  the  first 
ever  established  in  the  United  States.  At  this  school,  while  under 
the  direction  of  its  distinguished  founder,  the  Honourable  Chief 
Justice  himself  had  pursued  the  study  of  the  Law. 

Loud  calls  from  every  side  were  made  for  Professor  Maclean 
who  in  a  few  words  responded  to  them ;  and,  after  a  playful  re- 
mark or  two  upon  the  unexpected  demand  made  of  him,  he  ob- 
served, that  it  gave  his  colleagues  and  himself  very  great  pleasure 
to  witness  so  large  a  gathering  of  the  Aluimii  and  other  friends  of 
the  College,  much  larger  indeed  than  they  had  indulged  the  hope 
of  seeing,  but  none  too  large,  and  assuredly  one  most  welcome. 
He  also  expressed  his  confident  hope,  that  the  scenes  of  this  day 
would  serve  to  renew,  and  to  increase,  the  interest  they  had  all  felt 
in  the  welfare  of  Alma  Mater. 

Gov.  Pennington  stated  that  his  neighbor  and  friend,  Mr.  Samuel 
Baldwin,  of  Newark,  was  the  oldest  living  graduate  of  the  College 
— that  he  graduated  77  years  ago,  and  is  now  93  years  of  age. 
He  further  stated  that  in  calling  to  see  him  a  short  time  since  in 
company  with  Chancellor  Frelinghuysen,  he  appeared  in  the  full 
possession  and  enjoyment  of  Ms  mind,  and  took  up  a  newspaper 
and  read  with  facility  several  passages  which  interested  him.  with- 
out the  use  of  glasses.  Governor  Pennington  then  proposed — the 
health  of  the  venerable  Samuel  Baldwin :  the  Christian  scholar  and 
gentleman.     Which  was  received  with  great  enthusiam. 

Mr.  P.  C.  Van  Wyck  then  rose  and  said  it  was  not  his  intention 
to  speak  at  any  length.  The  virtues  and  merits  of  the  different 
Presidents  of  the  College  had  been  so  fully  alluded  to  by  the  older 
graduates  with  so  vivid  a  remembrance,  and  so  many  tributes  of 
praise  had  been  paid  to  their  memories,  that  he  now  conceived  it 
to  be  his  duly  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  auchencp  to  one  whom 


32 

he  and  his  fellow  graduates  had  always  looked  up  to  with  tlie 
greatest  veneration  and  respect.  Honoured  for  his  talents,  venera- 
ted for  his  wisdom,  and  beloved  for  his  modesty  and  virtue. 

James  Carnahan — The  model  of  all  good  men  whose  merit  is 
only  equalled  by  the  modesty  of  his  demeanor.  As  he  has  done, 
may  he  long  continue  to  honour  and  adorn  the  position  he  now  oc- 
cupies, as  President  of  Nassau  Hall. 

President  Carnahan  responded  to  this  toast. 

Mr.  President,  This  is  the  first  time  in  a  life  not  very  short,  that 
I  have  risen  to  respond  to  a  call  similar  to  that  now  made.  And  as 
the  call  was  not  anticipated,  I  wish  simply  to  say  that  my  young 
friend,  in  the  ardour  of  his  feelings,  has  connected  my  name  with 
the  prosperity  of  the  College,  in  a  way  more  flattering  than  I  could 
wish  my  best  friends  to  claim  on  my  behalf. 

It  is  true,  and  I  rejoice  in  the  fact,  that  the  College  has  prospered 
during  a  part  at  least  of  the  time  I  have  had  the  honour  of  being 
connected  with  it.  But  it  cannot  have  escaped  your  notice,  or  ihat 
of  any  one  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  College,  that  other 
causes  than  any  merit  on  the  part  of  him  who  addresses  you,  have 
been  at  work.  Look  at  the  long  list  of  distinguished  and  good 
men  who  have  preceded  me,  and  whose  virtues  and  labours  were 
so  justly  and  so  eloquently  recalled  to  our  remembrance  yesterday, 
and  you  ^Avill  have  no  difficulty  in  discovering  one  cause  of  the 
present  prosperity  of  the  Institution.  These  are  the  men  who  per- 
formed the  labour  and  gave  Nassau  Hall  a  reputation  which  at  this 
day  attracts  public  notice. 

To  construct  and  put  in  operation  a  machine  is  the  herculean 
task.  To  guide  its  subsequent  movements  is  comparatively  an 
easy  matter.  A  body  requiring  an  immense  force  to  move  it  from 
a  state  of  rest,  may,  you  know,  be  kept  in  motion  and  be  made  to 
proceed  with  accelerated  speed,  by  a  few  feeble  impulses  succes- 
sively applied  during  its  progress.  In  the  reputation  of  our  prede- 
cessors, we  have  received  a  rich  inheritance,  and  ours  must  be  the 
disgrace  of  the  reckless  spendthrift,  if  it  be  not  retained  and  handed 
down  unimpaired  to  our  successors. 

Another  cause  of  the  present  success  of  the  College,  is  the  high 
distinction  and  eminent  usefulness  of  its  Alumni,  in  every  depart- 
ment of  professional  and  public  life.     Scattered  over  the  length  and 


33 

breadth  of  our  land,  filling  with  honour  the  most  conspicuous  and 
responsible  stations,  they  have  led  parents  and  guardians  to  inquire 
where  and  in  what  school,  the  foundation  of  such  eminence  was 
laid  ?  And  the  answer  "  Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  New  Jersey,"  has 
brought  hither  students  in  increased  numbers — each  parent  wish- 
ing his  son,  to  taste  the  same  fountain  from  which  Madison  and 
Reeves  and  Livingston  and  Rush  and  Paterson  and  Stockton  and 
Hobart  and  Southard  and  an  hundred  other  illustrious  names  drank 
in  their  early  days.  And  let  the  Alumni  who  sm-round  these  tables 
and  others  scattered  over  our  comitry  act  well  their  part  in  life  and 
we  will  answer  for  it,  that  Nassau  Hall  shall  not  be  deserted  in 
time  to  come. 

Another  fact,  it  would  be  injustice  to  overlook.  It  has  been  my 
good  fortime,  to  be  surromided  with  an  academic  corps  of  which 
no  College  need  be  ashamed.  Eminently  qualified  for  their  sta- 
tions, our  professors  to  whom  instruction  in  the  different  depart- 
ments of  literature  and  science  has  been  chiefly  committed,  have 
devoted  to  their  official  duties  all  their  energies:  and  success  in 
many  cases  has  crowned  their  labom-s.  These,  sir,  are  the  promi- 
nent causes  which  under  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  have  pro- 
duced the  present  prosperity  of  this  College. 

Edward  Dickerson,  Esquire,  then  offered  the  following  compli- 
mentary toast  to  Prof.  Henry. 

As  long  as  the  Telegraph  Wires  shall  extend  from  Maine  to 
Louisiana,  may  the  name  of  Henry  ever  be  prominent. 

^^  Auld  Lang' Syne^^ — was  sung  by  Mr.  James  Alden,  with  de- 
lightful effect. 

The  writer  of  the  Ode — Matthias  Ward — was  complimented  in 
a  toast. 

The  foUowhig  sentiment  offered  by  Robert  McKnight,  Esq.,  of 
Pittsbm'gh,  Pa.,  a  graduate  of  the  Class  of  1839,  was  received  with 
a  most  agreeable  sensation  by  all  present. 

Nassau  Hall  and  her  Sotis — The  tie  which  biads  her  absent  sons 
increases  as  the  square  of  the  distance. 

Archer  Gifford,  Esq.,  of  Newark,  said  that  the  Committee  had 
been  pleased  to  remember  in  the  regular  toasts  the  Matrons  of  the 
country,  to  whom  much  was  justly  attribute^.    But  if  ajay  f^ult 


34 

could  be  found  with  this  sentiment  it  would  be  in  its  restriction  to 
a  portion  of  "  the  sex  whose  presence  civilizes  ours."  He  had  at 
the  table  been  pleased  to  hear  the  remarks  of  a  distinguished  Pro- 
fessor in  an  Eastern  College  respecting  the  increased  attention  in 
that  institution  to  such  arrangements  as  would  secure  a  more  ex- 
tended influence  to  female  society  on  the  labours  and  manners  of 
the  Student,  and  it  was  gratifying  to  know  that  in  a  near  sister 
College  recently  established,  female  influence  is  intended  by  its 
founder,  to  use  his  own  words,  to  be  a  constant  and  influential  ele- 
ment in  its  administration,  and  as  on  festive  occasions  the  compli- 
ment is  seldom  omitted,  he  begged  leave  now  to  propose 

"The  Fair  of  our  Country," 
which  was  received  of  course  with  a  burst  of  enthusiasm. 

The  following  sentiment  was  oftered  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Dod,  the 
brother  of  the  much  lamented  Professor. 

Robert  Finley,  D.D. — A  child  of  Princeton,  a  son  of  Nassau  Hall, 
and  the  Father  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  an  institution 
Avhich  we  own  as  the  offspring  of  our  Alma  Mater. 

The  delightful  feast  was  concluded,  with  devout  thanksgiving  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Junkin,  President  of  Lafayette  College. 


In  the  evening  the  Ladies  connected  in  the  families  of  the  Presi- 
dent and  Professors  held  a  levee  in  the  Hall  of  the  Museum,  which 
was  appropriately  decorated  for  the  occasion.  Aniong  the  paint- 
ings there  were  portraits  of  some  of  the  most  illustrious  officers  and 
friends  of  the  College — Presidents  Edwards,  Witherspoon,  Smith, 
Green  and  Carnahan,  Richard  Stockton,  father  and  son,  Professor 
Hmiter,  Dr.  Boudinot,  Dr.  Hosack,  Rev.  Drs.  A.  and  J.  W.  Alex- 
ander and  Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  &c.  Peale's  famous  picture  comprising 
an  original  and  full  length  portrait  of  Washington,  a  representation 
of  the  battle  of  Princeton,  and  also  a  portrait  of  General  Mercer,  re- 
clining on  the  field  of  battle,  after  he  had  been  mortally  wounded, 
was  among  the  ornaments  of  the  brilliantly  lighted  room,  and  was 
surrounded  with  the  stars  and  stripeS;  and  above  it  was  the  siiield 
oi'  New  Jersey,  bearing'  the  dales— ir47  and  1817. 


33 


INTERESTING  LETTERS 

Were  received  from  the  Presideats  and  Professors  of  many  of  the 
Colleges  of  the  Union,  expressing  regrets,  &c.,  for  their  absence, 
also  from  many  other  distinguished  persons  who  from  ill  health 
or  previous  pressing  engagements  were  unable  to  be  present  at  this 
celebration. 

From  the  many  letters  received  we  have  selected  tlie  two  fol- 
lowing, one  from  the  venerable  President  Adams  and  the  other  from 
Chancellor  Kent,  both  of  whom  it  is  well  Imown,  are  recently  de-r 
ceased. 

Messrs.  James  Carnahan,  Samuel  Miller,  M.  Newkirk,  and  James 
S.  Green,  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  Princeton. 

Q,uiNCY,  1 7th  June,  1847. 
Fhiends  and  Fellow-citizens, 

I  have  received  your  kind  invitation  of  the  10th  inst.,  to  attend 
the  celebration  of  the  hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  on  the  29th  and  30th  days  of  the  present  month.  An  invi^ 
tation  which  I  receive  with  the  most  grateful  feelings,  and  which  I 
should  delight  to  accept,  but  for  the  infirm  state  of  my  health :  that 
however,  will  not  at  the  present  time  permit  me  to  absent  myself 
so  far  from  home.  I  must  therefore  content  myself,  by  assuring 
you  of  my  best  wishes  for  the  continued  prosperity  of  that  Institu- 
tion, to  which  I  feel  myself  peculiarly  indebted,  for  repeated  testi-f 
monials  of  their  kindness  and  esteem,  and  with  fervent  prayer,  to 
the  Father  of  Lights  that  His  blessing  may  beam  with  undimin- 
ished lustre  from  that  golden  candle-stick,  which  has  now  for  the 
space  of  a  full  century,  so  largely  contributed  to  illuminate  our  na* 
tive  land. 

With  great  respect,  gentlemen, 

I  remain  your  faithful  Friend, 
and  Countryman, 

JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMa 


m 

New  York,  Jiuie  21,  184?. 

To  Messrs,  tlie  Reverend  President  Carnahan,  Samuel  Miller^ 
M.  Newkirk  and  James  S.  Green,  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey. 

Reverend  Gentlemen: 

I  received  on  Friday  last  your  invitation  to  attend  the  Centenary 
celebration  of  the  Institution  of  Princeton  College,  on  the  29th  inst, 
I  could  not  well  have  received  any  invitation  more  honorable  to  my 
character,  or  more  gratifying  to  my  feelings,  and  I  deeply  regret  at 
being  obliged,  from  my  impaired  health,  to  forego  the  honour  and 
the  pleasure  of  accepting  the  invitation,  I  am  greatly  recovered 
from  catarrhal  and  dyspepsical  influences,  which  have  afflicted  me 
for  some  months,  but  I  am  as  yet  very  vv^eak,  and  it  is  deemed  un- 
advisible  for  me  to  tax  my  health  and  strength  with  the  assumption 
of  such  a  duty. 

This  is  my  frank  apology,  and  permit  me  to  add  that  if  I  had  sufli- 
cient  strength,  it  would  have  afforded  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to 
have  met  the  Friends  of  Learning  and  Religion,  and  the  officers, 
patrons,  and  alumni  of  that  Institution,  on  the  day  of  celebration, 
and  to  have  mingled  my  joyous  sympathies  with  theirs.  My  im-- 
pressions  of  great  respect  for  Princeton  College  were  imbibed  in 
early  life,  and  they  have  been  continually  on  the  increase,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  character  of  the  College  for  learning  and  piety, 
and  of  the  many  distinguished  alumni  who  have  sustained  varied 
trusts,  and  discharged  gi-eat  public  duties,  both  in  Church  and 
State  with  eminent  usefulness  and  honour. 

I  am.  Reverend  Gentlemen, 
With  the  greatest  respect  and  consideration. 

Your  obliged  and  faithful  servant, 

JAMES  KENT. 


